Mike Poulin's Ring of Honor Champions Challenge Review

Colt Cabana and El Generico vs The All Night Express - Kenny King and Rhett Titus

These two teams were very successful in getting huge victories in their blocks as King and Titus beat Jerry Lynn and Delirious and Cabana and Generico got the win over The American Wolves. Cabana and Titus lock up to start the match. Titus lands a series of shots but it's Cabana landing a nice hip toss and bars the arm. Cabana wrenches the arm of Titus and makes the tag and Generico comes off the ropes and lands a leap on to the arm and continues to work over the arm but Titus catches Generico with a knee to the gut and makes the tag out. Generico catches King coming in and lands a series of arm drags. Cabana gets the tag and quickly rolls up King for a near fall. Cabana and Generico dominate the early going but it's Titus landing a shot from behind and King with a clothesline to the back of the head of Generico. King works over Generico in to the corner and makes the tag out and Titus lands a big forearm and a big chop to the chest and then lands a big bodyslam and makes the tags out and King lands a big springboard leg drop. King whips Generico in to the ropes and lands a big spin kick for a near fall. King locks in a bodyscissors and makes the tag and ANX dominate the next several minutes. King and Titus go for their double team atomic drop/clothesline but Generico blocks and sends King and Titus together and kicks King and makes the tag. Cabana comes in and lands a double moonsault on both King and Titus. Cabana cleans house and holds his own while Generico is out for a bit. Cabana locks in the Billy Goat's Curse but Steve Corino comes out for the distraction and Corino and Cabana brawl to the back. Generico catches Titus with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Generico attempts to fight off the ANX but the odds are too much and it's King and Titus land a series of moves and a backbreaker/knee drop combination for the win.

Winners: The All Night Express - Kenny King and Rhett Titus.

We go outside to the Bravado Brothers. Lance says that tonight we are in the shadow of the Richmond Raceway. Lance says they've faced and lost to the Dark City Fight Club twice. Lance says that tonight they are fighting to get to Ultimate Endurance in their hometown in front of their friends and their mother and that's something worth fighting for. Lance says that the DCFC are fighting a Bravados team that they have never faced before. Honestly not a terrible promo from the Bravados but can they defeat DCFC and advance to their hometown and Ultimate Endurance.

Bravados waste no times drop kicking the DCFC off the apron and double dives to the floor. Harlem scores a quick near fall and goes for an Irish Whip but Davis blocks and lands a big forearm and Harlem goes for a sunset flip but Davis catches Harlem but Harlem lands a frankensteiner out of the move. Harlem avoids a big kick from Davis but Davis catches him with a big powerslam. DCFC double team Harlem and land a double decapitation knee drop for a near fall. Chavis whips Harlem back in to the ropes and lands a big elbow followed by a big knee drop and locks in a chinlock. Davis gets the tag in and works over Harlem for the next several minutes as does Chavis but Harlem fights back and lands a big dropkick on Davis and makes the tag out. Lance avoids an attack from DCFC and The Bravados get some offensive. In the end it's the DCFC taking out Lance with a clothesline/legsweep and then the double powerbomb/neckbreaker combination on Harlem for the win.

Winners: The Dark City Fight Club. This wasn't terrible and it was kept short and of course the DCFC advance to Ultimate Endurance the next night in Charlotte and who will be the final team.

We go outside to Kenny King and Rhett Titus. Titus says they told us that it didn't matter who it was they were going to be a part of Ultimate Endurance. King says that says they've been so good at prophesying and sees Mark Briscoe beat down with no teeth. Kory Chavis and Jon Davis laying down on the mat. King says that he also sees Kings but where are their belts The ANX are holding them. King says that they are just bad ass wrestlers and in Ultimate Endurance they will go ALL NIGHT LONG.

Match 3

Tag Wars Block A Final Match

Jay and Mark Briscoe vs Necro Butcher and Prince Nana

This was supposed to be Erick Stevens in this match but he had transportation problems. Mark and Necro start us off and Mark ducks a shot and then lands a series of shots and a big dropkick on Necro. Briscoes pretty much dominate the early going of the match as Nana refuses to enter. Necro lands a big right hand on Jay and tags to Nana. Nana lands a couple of shots but Jay gets back to his feet and Nana quickly tags out. Necro lands a series of shots and lands a big chokeslam/clothesline combination for a near fall. Nana comes in and lands more shots but Jay grabs Nana by the leg but Nana tags back out. Necro lands several shots but it's Jay fighting back and making the tag out to Mark. Mark does his redneck kung fu and lands a series of chops to the chest and sends Necro to the floor with a clothesline. Mark gets his hands on Nana and works him over for a bit. Necro goes for a Tiger Driver but Mark blocks and Necro goes for a superplex but Jay comes from behind and goes for the doomsday device but Necro counters with a victory roll for a near fall on Jay. Jay lands a superkick and Jay lands the Jay Driller on Necro and the Briscoes advance.

Winners: Jay and Mark Briscoe. Meh match - I think it would've been better with Stevens in it but the Briscoes basically getting the big win and advancing to Ultimate Endurance in Charlotte the next night.

Kevin Steen comes out with microphone in hand and cuts off Ring Announcer Bobby Cruise. Steen says tonight he is facing Ring of Honor's newest Golden Boy the American Wolf Davey Richards. Steen says that Davey Richards career has been full of cheap tactics and yet when the match was mentioned he heard cheers for Davey Richards and boos for him. Steen says that in 2009 he and some masked retard had a feud with The American Wolves that is forever embedded in his memory but there was one moment that he will cherish his whole life and he wants to tell Davey Richards what it is to his face. Davey gets a nice pop from the Richmond crowd. Steen says that his favorite moment was breaking Eddie Edwards' arm.

Match 4

Kevin Steen vs Davey Richards

Davey goes right after Steen with a big running kick in the corner. Davey goes for an Irish Whip but Steen counters but Davey catches him coming with a big boot and slides to the apron. Steen sends Davey in to the ring post but Davey hooks the ropes and Steen tumbles to the floor. Davey lands a big kick to the ribs of Steen and then sends him in to the barricade and lands another big running kick to the face and sends Steen in to the barricade on the other side of the ring and works over Steen. Steen comes back and powerbombs Davey in to the apron and then works him over on the floor and works over Davey. Steen and Davey trade shots but Steen sends Davey shoulder first in to the ring post and works over the arm of Davey on the floor. Steen works over the arm of Davey and locks in a wristlock. Davey who escapes. Davey sends Steen to the apron and then lands a big headbutt and a knee to the back sending Steen to the floor and a big dive on Steen where Davey ends up in the crowd. Steen whips Davey in to the ropes but Davey catches him with a big handspring spin kick for a near fall. Steen and Davey trade shots and it's Davey getting the edge. Davey goes for a German Suplex but can't get Steen over. Steen goes for his pumphandle backbreaker but Davey escapes and locks in the ankle lock but Steen escapes.

Davey catches Steen from the apron with a shoulder tackle and goes for another shoulder block but Steen counters and lands double knees to the chest of Davey while Davey is tied up in the ropes followed by the Cannonball in the corner for a near fall. Steen goes for the package piledriver but Davey blocks that and locks in the ankle lock but Steen escapes. Steen locks in the crossface but Davey counters out of it with a nice rolling cradle for a near fall. Davey lands a series of kicks followed by a big back suplex. Davey climbs the ropes and goes for the diving headbutt but Steen gets out of the way and locks in the crossface but again Davey escapes. Davey lands a barrage of kicks in the corner and lands a German Suplex for a near fall. Davey goes for a back superplex but Steen shoves Davey off but misses a big moonsault. Steen hooks Davey and lands a package piledriver but only gets 2. Steen goes for another package piledriver but Davey blocks with a big back body drop. Davey lands a series of kicks to the head and winds up and lands a huge kick to the face and KO's Steen for the 1-2-3.

Winner: Davey Richards.

Davey Richards gets the microphone and says that earlier Steen called him the Golden Boy of Ring of Honor and Davey says that's true for one reason and it's because he stands for everything the company stands for. Davey says that it's too bad Steen is such a psychotic asshole because he's one hell of a fighter. Davey thanks the crowd for coming out and tells them that they have one hell of a main event coming up between Tyler Black and Eddie Edwards.

Match 5

Bobby Dempsey and Cedric Alexander vs Jake Manning and Caleb Konley

Hmm seems like a throw away match here just some extra guys on the card. Dempsey and Manning lock up, Manning locks in a side headlock but Dempsey shoves him off and landing a big shoulder tackle. Manning goes for an Irish Whip but gets countered and back dropped and clotheslined. Cedric gets the tag in and lands a nice headscissors but Manning fights back and makes the tag to Konley. Konley hooks the arm of Alexander and works over the arm but Cedric comes back and lands a big dropkick for a near fall. Cedric charges the corner but misses and goes in shoulder first in to the corner and lands a big kick to the arm and Manning and Konley work over the arm of Cedric. Cedric makes the hot tag out and Dempsey cleans house and lands a Death Valley Driver on Konley for the win.

Winners: Bobby Dempsey and Cedric Alexander.

ROH Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling-Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli come out to a mixed reaction. Hero gets the microphone and says unfortunately the Kings of Wrestling are here in RICHMOND VIRGINIA. Hero says that he's heard there are some good wrestlers in VIRGINIA but when he looks around the arena he sees nobody worthy of facing the Kings and makes an open challenge.

SET get a nice reaction from the local crowd. KOW go right after the SET but the SET fight back and land a wheelbarrow spear on Claudio and then a double team sending Hero to the floor and Sinn launches Lance Lude in to a dive to the floor with a big double dive to the floor. Sinn wheelbarrows Lude but Hero moves and makes the tag to Claudio. Claudio lands a big launching European Uppercut for a near fall. Claudio gets Lude across the back and Hero lands a big double stomp off the ropes and works over Lude. Hero makes the tag and hooks Lude and Claudio lands a big shot to the ribs. Claudio presses Lude and spins him around and plants him down to the mat. KOW pretty much destroy Lude and this was basically a display of the dominance of the KOW. Sinn makes a tag in and cleans house for a bit even sending both KOW to the floor. Lude dives off the apron but Claudio catches him and drives him back first in to the ring post with a powerbomb and Lude has to be carried out on a stretcher. KOW basically beat down J-Sinn for the next several minutes until Jay Briscoe eventually comes in and Sinn makes the tag. Jay cleans house but is cut off by the KOW but then Mark comes out and the referee calls for the bell and the match is a no contest and we get a pull apart by the referee.

Winner: No Contest.

Match 7

Steve Corino vs Jeff Early

Corino gets some good heat from the Richmond crowd. Apparently Roderick Strong has not arrived yet so stepping in is local kid Jeff Early. Corino gently wrenches the arm of Early and Early goes in to a side headlock. Early lands a shoulder tackle but Corino catches him coming off the ropes with a knee to the gut. Corino lands the Colby Shock hammerlock in to a DDT for a near fall. Early tries to come back but Corino lands a vicious lariat followed by the Emerald Dream and the easy win.

Winner: Steve Corino.

Steve Corino gets the microphone and mockingly thanks Early for the match and tosses him out. Corino insults the fans and says to a young lady that he's going to take her to the Myriad and show her a little BOOM BOOM. Colt Cabana comes out with a microphone and basically challenges Corino to a match. Cabana gets the upper hand and lands the flying butt butt but Corino catches him with a shot from the chain. Corino gets the microphone and tells Cabana that he only wrestles once a night and this chain in your pretty little teeth is just a sample of what your going to get on September 11th and THAT'S THE TRUTH. CUE Roderick Strong's music and I guess our next scheduled match.

Match 8

Steve Corino vs Roderick Strong

Strong comes through the crowd and attacks Corino sending him to the floor and in to the barricade and landing a chop to the chest. Strong sends Corino back in to the corner but Corino pulls the referee out of the way and Strong collides with the referee. Corino low blows Strong but out comes Cabana again and lands a chain shot on Corino followed by a Sick Kick from Strong for the win.

Winner: Roderick Strong.

Prior to our main event Jim Cornette comes to the ring. Cornette says this match was originally signed as a Non Title Match but says that he wants to give the fans extra in Richmond and if Tyler will agree to it this will be a ROH Title Match. Tyler gets the microphone and says that the people question his integrity and his commitment but tonight he's going to keep his commitments and the match will remain a Non Title Match because Richmond doesn't deserve it. Tyler also demands that Davey Richards be ejected from the match or he's not wrestling. Cornette agrees and both leave and the match is on.

Black and Eddie lock up. Black goes after the arm of Eddie but Eddie counters and wrenches the arm and Black quickly gets to the ropes and bails out. Black and Eddie lock up again and Black forces Eddie in to the corner and slaps him in the face and again takes the high road to the floor. Black and Eddie lock up again and this time it's Black with a side headlock. Eddie sends Black in to the ropes and drops down and catches Eddie with an arm drag but Black goes in to a headscissors and Eddie escapes. Black then lands a side headlock but Eddie turns it in to a headscissors of his own on Eddie and then they both go for dropkicks and we have a stand off. Black and Eddie lock up again and Black forces Eddie in to the corner and lands a quick slap to the face but Eddie fires back and lands a big chop to the chest and works over Black. Eddie goes for the whip and Black reverses but Eddie holds on Black does a back flip and lands a big dropkick and locks in a chinlock. Black whips Eddie in to the corner but Eddie catches him with a big boot and lands a second rope codebreaker and goes for the half crab but Black quickly gets to the ropes. Black and Eddie both go for back suplexes but Black gets the edge and tosses Eddie to the floor. Black lands a series of shots and sends Eddie back first in to the apron and works the back of Eddie and beats him down for several minutes.

Black has Eddie set up in the corner but Eddie catches him with a big boot to the face. Eddie lands a series of shots to the face of Eddie and catches him with a big belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Eddie lands another suplex and climbs the ropes and lands a big move from the ropes and scores a near fall. Eddie goes for the Achilles Lock and kicks Eddie in the face and lands a big springboard clothesline. Black goes for a buckle bomb but Eddie counters and dumps him over the ropes and then lands a big dive to the floor on Black. Tyler goes for a buckle bomb but Eddie blocks and they both counter moves but Eddie locks in the Half Crab but Black gets to the ropes. Eddie goes for the Backpack Stunner but Black escapes and lands a big spinning inverted DDT for a near fall. Black and Eddie trade near falls and then they trade brutal shots with Black landing a big kick followed by Eddie landing a big clothesline and both men are down. Black sends Eddie to the floor and lands the buckle bomb in to the barricade but Eddie is just barely able to make it back in to the ring. Black lands a big buckle bomb and goes for a superkick but Eddie blocks and locks in the Half Crab but Black gets to the ropes. Eddie goes after Black but Black quickly double legs Eddie and puts his feet on the ropes and scores the 1.2.3.

Winner: ROH World Champion Tyler Black. Really Good Match between these two to close out the show some great action and Tyler gets the big win going in to Charlotte the next night.

An alright show but nothing overly special. A fun opening match with Cabana/Generico and ANX then a solid mid card match between Davey/Steen a fun Corino bit. KOW displaying their dominance over the SET and having a brief brawl with the Briscoes to build to Charlotte the next night. Also a really good main event the show isn't a must buy but if you're a completist then pick it up.